Reply #32: You do not have to identify yourself as a Democrat or a Republican

[question everything]

to vote in the general elections. You do, however, if you want to vote in the primaries. And it makes sense. Take the 2004 elections. Bush was running unopposed (more or less) in his party, thus many Republicans could have registered as Democrat and vote in the Democratic primaries for a candidate who otherwise would not be the choice of most Democrats, just to throw the selection process.

I know of some who were registered as Independent, or as Democrats, who changed their registration in 2000 to vote for McCain in the primaries since, again, Gore was practically unopposed.

Yes, as others have pointed, one should be able to prove who s/he is while registering to vote and then have his/her name among the voters on election day. Some states, however, allow for registering at the polls on election day but, I think, you have to show some kind of an ID and a utility bill showing your address.

I agree with the problem of a banned list and this was really the main problem in Florida in 2000, more so, I think, than the "hanging chad."